Photo



(No Model.)

H. W. SHONNARD 82; G. H. DAVIS.

SELF OPENING POCKET KNIFE. No. 551,052. 7 Patented Dec. 10, 1895.

AN DREW B.G BAIIAM.PHUTOJJWQWASNINGTONJL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIAROLDWVALDRON SHONNARD AND GEORGE HOIVLETT DAVIS, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

SELF-OPENING POCKET-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,052, dated December10, 1895.

Application filed January 30, 1896.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HAROLD WALDRoN SHONNARD and GEORGE HowLETr DAVIS,citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented a certain new, useful, andvaluable Improvement in Self- Opening Pocket-Knives, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to selfopening pocketknives, and has for itsobject to provide the combination and arrangement of parts,substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, and such as will behereinafter fully described.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved knifehaving one lining side removed. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the liningreferred to as removed from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing thereleasing mechanism in position on the lining. Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsection taken substantially through the center of the knife and showingits several parts in operative positions. Fig. 5 is a detail View of thereleasing-lever. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the locking-spring. Fig. 7illustrates a modified form of actuatingspring employed with thereleasing device shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive.

In the following detailed description like numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The blade 1, having the tang 2, is pivotally secured between the linings3 4 by the rivet 5, which also passes through the bolsters 6 6.

It will be observed that the tang 2 of the blade, as shown at Figs. 1and 2, is camshaped-t'. 6., its periphery at the point 8 is fartherremoved from the pivot 5'than at the point 7--and the purpose of this isto allow the blade or tang at the point 8 to be free of the end 9 of theback spring 10 when said blade is closed, thus permitting theactuating-spring 11 togive the blade a free quick start the moment it isreleased. The stop-pin 12 prevents the end 9 of the back spring fromcontacting with the tang of the blade until the latter has opened to aconsiderable extent and attained amomentum, when the said end 9 comes infrictional contact with said tang 2 at about the point 8, and upon theblade being Serial No. 536,646. (No model.)

completely opened the said end 9 rests on the flattened part 13 of saidtang.

The device for releasing and locking the blade of the form shown atFigs. 1 to 6, inelusive, consists, essentially, of the lining 4, havingthe slot 14, the pivot-hole 15, and the pin-hole 16. The edge 17 of theslot 14 serves as a fulcrum for the releasing-lever 18, which extendsthrough said slot 14 and engages the locking-spring 19 near itslocking-pin 20,

which is normally kept pressed against the tang 2 and enters either ofthe holes 21 22, when they are thrown into properposition by the openingor closing of the blade, and'can only be freed therefrom when the button23 of the releasing-lever 18 is pushed inward, which causes its oppositeend 24 to press the end of the locking-spring 19, carrying the pin 20,outward, and thus allowing the spring 11, assuming the blade to havebeen closed, to quickly throw the said blade completely or partly open.WVhen the blade is closed, the hole 22 is engaged, and when openedfull-way the oppositely-arranged hole 21 is engaged by said pin 20. Thelocking-spring having the slot 25, through which the releasing-lever 18passes, is rigidly secured in any suitable manner at the point 26, so asto keep its free end and the pin 20 pressed inward. As is obvious, thebutton 23 extends through an opening in the side of the knife, so as toallow it to be readily operated by the thumb or finger.

In the modification shown at Fig. 7 the actuating device consists of thecord 35, attached to the tang at point 36 and normally exerting atension thereon by the coil-spring 37. The releasing device shown atFigs. 1 to 6 is preferably employed with this form of actuating device.

Many minor changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of ourinvention, as

What we claim is- 1. In a knife, the combination with the pivoted,spring-actuated blade,of a slotted spring having one end secured to theknife lining and its other end provided with a stud adapted to engageholes in the blade, and a lever passing through the slotted spring andlining and adapted when depressed to release the stud from engagementwith the blade, substantially as described.

ted spring and fulcrulned upon the lining, and a button upon the outerend of the lever, I

said button when depressed serving to force the inner end of the leveroutward against the slotted spring whereby the stud upon the latter isfreed from engagement with the I and the other end carried through theside of blade, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a knife, the combination with the spring actuated blade providedwith looking holes and a cam-faced tang, of a spring frictionally actingupon said tang, a slottedspring secured to the knife-lining and having astud at its free end adapted to engage the locking holes in the bladeand lock the latter in its closed and open position, and a lever passingj through the slotted spring and fulcrumed' upon the lining and adaptedwhen depressed to free the stud from engagement with the locking holesin the blade, substantially as described.

4. In a self opening knife, the combination with the blade having one ormore lock holes therein, a suitable spring adapted to keep said bladenormally open, a fiat spring carrying a stud adapted to engage saidholes, a lever passing through an opening in the lining and fulcruniedthereon, one end of said lever engaging the flat spring near the studthe knife so as to be convenientlypressed, as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

HAROLD WA'LDRON SIIONNARD. GEORGE HOW'ILEWI DAVIS. \Vitnesses:

L. D. SMITH, F. H. Wis-GIN.

